Is the 2000 Ford Ranger a bad year?
668 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other Ranger years.
Keep it
Engine and transmission complaints for the 2000 Ford Ranger are in line with other Ranger years. Tires, body structure, suspension and 2 more stand out for this year: see below.
The verdict moves with mileage: the same car reads differently at 30,000 and at 150,000 miles.
What 2000 Ranger owners report, by mileage
Each system owners named in five or more complaints, with the mileage range where the middle half of those complaints were filed. Read at 40,000 miles.
| SYSTEM | COMPLAINTS | MIDDLE HALF FILED AT | TYPICAL US REPAIR BILLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| TiresSTANDS OUT | 138 (21%) | 33k–99k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Body structureSTANDS OUT | 105 (16%) | 78k–149k miles · ahead | — |
| SuspensionSTANDS OUT | 72 (11%) | 66k–133k miles · ahead | Ball joint replacement (one joint) $200–$500 · Control arm replacement (one arm) $200–$900 |
| Air bagsSTANDS OUT | 67 (10%) | 50k–131k miles · ahead | — |
| Speed controlSTANDS OUT | 55 (8%) | 42k–119k miles · ahead | — |
| Brakes | 73 (11%) | 35k–99k miles · around this mileage | Brake pad replacement (one axle) $115–$390 · Brake pads and rotors replacement (one axle) $200–$1,084 |
| Engine | 40 (6%) | 28k–82k miles · around this mileage | Valve cover gasket replacement $110–$500 · Timing chain replacement $1,000–$4,000 |
| Electrical system | 38 (6%) | 40k–91k miles · around this mileage | 12-volt battery replacement $100–$400 · Starter motor replacement $350–$1,200 |
| Transmission and drivetrain | 69 (10%) | 50k–108k miles · ahead | CV axle / CV joint replacement (one side) $300–$1,500 · Automatic transmission replacement $2,500–$7,000 |
| Fuel system | 26 (4%) | 57k–120k miles · ahead | Fuel pump replacement $220–$1,500 · Fuel injector replacement (one injector) $300–$1,200 |
| Seat belts | 23 (3%) | 62k–139k miles · ahead | — |
| Steering | 25 (4%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Exterior lighting | 14 (2%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Equipment | 9 (1%) | too few with a mileage | — |
Bills are typical US ranges from the sources named in the tool (J.D. Power, Kelley Blue Book, CarParts.com and others), printed only for systems that stand out or sit at or ahead of 40,000 miles. Not a quote.
What owners reported alongside their complaints
Of 668 complaints: 86 mention a crash · 12 mention a fire · 64 report an injury · 2 say the car was towed.
No complaints in the last 12 months; the newest was filed in Aug 2022.
Counts of what owners wrote in their complaints, not verified by anyone.
In owners' own words
At 50,000 miles, my Ford ranger began experiencing a slipping transmission and failed to start.
This is a follow up to odi #10217638. Traveling approx 60 MPH, truck seemed to lose upper transmission gear, engine light came on and coasted until a hard upshift .
Frame rotted. I feel as though it is a problem with many many rangers with the year around 2000. I had a cracked frame about 2 feet forward of where from suspension for rear tires meet frame.
Unedited excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, chosen by mileage (nearest 40,000 miles), not by content. Unverified.
Recalls for the 2000 Ford Ranger: 8
These headlamps fail to conform to the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 108, "Lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment." These lamps do not contain the required amber side reflectors. Decreased lighting visibility may result in a vehicle crash.
These headlamps fail to conform to the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 108, "Lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment." These lamps do not contain the required amber side reflectors. Decreased lighting visibility may result in a vehicle crash.
On certain pickup trucks, passenger vehicles, sport utility vehicles, and motor homes chassis, the speed control deactivation switch may, under certain conditions, leak internally and then overheat, smoke, or burn. This could result in an underhood fire.
Certain pro-a motors corner lamps, turn signals, and headlights sold as replacement lamps for use on certain passenger vehicles listed above. Without the amber reflectors, the vehicle will be poorly illuminated, possibly resulting in a vehicle crash without warning.
However, it is deemed a safety improvement campaign by the agency. Equipment description: Ford is replacing all firestone wilderness at 15, 16, and 17 inch tires mounted on Ford trucks and suvs. Should the tread separate at highway speeds, a vehicle crash could occur, possibly resulting in personal injury or death.
Tire description: firestone wilderness at, size P235/75R15, produced at the decatur, illinois tire plant and all firestone radial atx and radial atx II tires, size P235/75R15. Operation of these tires at low inflation pressures, high speed, and in hot weather, can contribute to separation of the tire tread. If the tread separates from the tire, the driver can lose control of the vehicle, possibly resulting in a crash causing injury or death.
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles, light duty trucks, sport utility vehicles, and Mini vans equipped with trw seat belt buckle assemblies. In the event of a vehicle crash, the occupant may not be properly restrained.
Vehicle description: pickup trucks equipped with 2.5L ohc engines. Engine coolant circulation through the heater circuit is prevented because of a plugged heater return tube (Water pump inlet tube) at the water pump. As a result of no heat in the heater circuit, defrost performance is compromised.
A recall may cover only some cars of a model year; the campaign size counts every model and year it lists. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls: dealers fix open recalls free.
Service bulletins from Ford: 2
Repair instructions Ford sent its dealers for symptoms seen in the shop on the 2000 Ford Ranger. Ask a dealer or mechanic for a bulletin by its number.
Neighbouring years
2001 Ranger: 515 complaints, keep it.
Every Ford Ranger year
2000 · 2001 · 2002 · 2003 · 2004 · 2005 · 2006 · 2007 · 2008 · 2009 · 2010 · 2011 · 2014 · 2016 · 2017 · 2019 · 2020 · 2021 · 2022 · 2023 · 2024 · 2025 · 2026 · All Ranger years side by side
Other Ford models: Ford 500 · Ford Bronco · Ford Bronco Sport · Ford C-Max · Ford Contour · Ford Crown Victoria · Ford E-150 · Ford E-250 · Ford E-350 · Ford E-450 · Ford EcoSport · Ford Edge · Ford Escape · Ford Escape Hybrid · Ford Escort · Ford Excursion · Ford Expedition · Ford Explorer · Ford Explorer Sport · Ford Explorer Sport Trac · Ford F SD · Ford F-150 · Ford F-150 Hybrid · Ford F-150 Lightning BEV · Ford F-250 SD · Ford F-350 SD · Ford F-450 SD · Ford F-550 SD · Ford Fiesta · Ford Five Hundred · Ford Flex · Ford Focus · Ford Focus Electric · Ford Ford · Ford Freestar · Ford Freestyle · Ford Fusion · Ford Fusion Energi · Ford Fusion Hybrid · Ford Maverick · Ford Maverick Hybrid · Ford Mustang · Ford Mustang GT · Ford Mustang Mach-E · Ford Taurus · Ford Taurus X · Ford Thunderbird · Ford Transit · Ford Transit Connect · Ford Windstar. All makes and models.
Questions
Is the 2000 Ford Ranger a bad year?
668 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other Ranger years. At 40,000 miles the tool says: Keep it.
What are the most common problems with the 2000 Ford Ranger?
By owner complaints to NHTSA: tires (138), body structure (105), suspension (72), air bags (67), speed control (55).
How many recalls does the 2000 Ford Ranger have?
8 recall campaigns list this model year: Exterior lighting (NHTSA 09E025000), Exterior lighting (NHTSA 09E012000), Speed control (NHTSA 07V-336), Exterior lighting (NHTSA 06E026000) and more. A recall may cover only some cars; check by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Method: counts of unverified owner complaints filed with NHTSA, compared only with other years of the same model (sales volumes are unknown, so no failure rate is computed). A system stands out at 40+ complaints and at least twice the model's quiet (lower-quartile) year, or twice the share across every vehicle of that model year. The mileage range is the 25th to 75th percentile of the mileages owners reported. Data received by NHTSA through November 5, 2026. Repair prices are typical US ranges from named sources, not quotes. Not a diagnosis and not financial advice. PulsCar is not affiliated with NHTSA. Check this car at your own mileage.